RISE e-Learning Communities

Engaging Diverse Communities: Implications for Competitive, Integrated Employment: Part 1: The Role of Cultural and Linguistic Competence in the Disability Space

Cultural competence and linguistic competence are widely recognized as fundamental aspects of human services. Cultural and linguistic competence are evidence-based practices that contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion across the public and private sectors. While evidence suggests the efficacy of cultural and linguistic competence in many sectors such as social services, education, and health care ⎼ evidence of their application in disability employment has been slower to evolve. Some disability employment organizations and programs continue to struggle with the full integration of cultural and linguistic competence into their policies, structures, practices, and procedures. The design of this two-part series takes an in depth look at the conceptual frameworks of cultural competence and linguistic competence and ways to use these approaches to engage diverse communities in the disability space.

Availability: Open to all grantees

Engaging Diverse Communities: Implications for Competitive, Integrated Employment: Part 2: Engaging Minoritized Communities: Implications for Competitive Integrated Employment and Community Living

Historically, many U.S. communities experienced discrimination, marginalization, and oppression. Consistent with the past, these injustices continue to affect specific racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, disability, religious, and other identity groups in states, jurisdictions (DC), territories, and tribal nations. The term minoritized emerged and it is increasingly accepted as a way to describe the experiences of these communities and the people who reside in them. Used as a verb, selected definitions indicate the inherent intentionality and active nature of “minoritized” for many social groups. Engaging communities that have experienced historical trauma can be daunting. Those attempting to engage these communities are often challenged by reticence, suspicion, restraint, lack of trust, and attributed in part to lived experiences (past and current) of many community members. This two-part series is designed to: (1) examine historical trauma and its impact on persons with disabilities, their families, and the communities in which they live; and (2) highlight the role of cultural brokering to engage members of minoritized communities.

Availability: Open to all grantees

Customized Job Development

Description: AoD grantees that support individuals with disabilities to obtain and retain competitive, integrated employment (CIE) face challenges in ensuring that people with disabilities obtain jobs that match their interests and skills and that pay living wages. If your organization is experiencing challenges related to securing CIE for people with disabilities or has limited knowledge and/or resources in employment or partnerships to support the advancement of CIE for individuals with complex disabilities in your state, then this Peer e-Learning Community on key strategies of Customized Job Development is for you!

Join us as we gain a broader perspective of innovative strategies to assist persons in obtaining CIE. We will learn from each other and brainstorm strategies to leverage collaborative partnerships and how to integrate this information into the work of your organization and the community to advance competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities.

Availability: Open to all grantees